Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1887-07-27

ripcns. She was richly dressed in dlrK-olue
velvet, with costly lace ut tho neck and
wrists. On her head che wore jaunty hat,
the same shade as her dress and ornamented
with dropping white plumcs that swept 70
her shoulders. Her dark hair was arranged
about her siaPcly head in rich coils, and the
small hands folded in her lap were exquiS
ite.y Cl0vod.
noted oil this, child though WIS, in the
few moments 1 stood there, and, though
most children would hare been attracted
toward tho beautiful and dainty-lool;ing
LAZY, only shrank away, feeling n strange
TCpulsion, almost amounting - fear, towards
her, nnl wishing could hide myself behind
the matrOn's aInpo skirts. My next glance
fen on the other lady, who sat quite still,
looking up and down the line of faces before
her, es il vainly searching for some pG-ticu-
lr ono amongst Va. Shc was exactly tho
opposite Of her companion in looks and bear.
ing. i remember, even then, wondering
That they should be together. She was q
woman at least fifty years Of age, and even
more, perhaps, for her hair was thickly
sprinkled with gray, and there were hard
lines about her mouth and eyes that spoke
Of Ggc or care perhaps both, but a strange
look 81 suppressed pain seemed imprinted
upon her whole face. But even when youth
had lent her tho charm and freshness Of
girlhCol she must still have been very plain
her complexion was sa,low, her eyes gray,
small and keen ga a ferrcts, her check
bones high, her figure tall and angular,
with large hands and wrists; her dress, OF
some gray stun, was scnnt and short; she
wore n brown shawl and soma flat ugly
sort OF bonnet and glasses. Such, in
brief, Is the description Of those two women
ns i remember them that afternoon so long
ago
Tho matron waited until we were all quiet I;
then she spoke in her gentle, even tones
my dear children, these two ladies' wish TO
adopt, as their own, oun OF you little girls.
l am glad to say 1 can surely recommend
each and all Of you aS obcdient and trusty
children, and hope, IL this kind lady should
conclude 10 take one Of You, you VIII try
and sec the benefit Of the change, and act
accordingly"
This was a set speech Of mndam's; VIC
had heard IL often before, and therefore
paid little attention to It, except 70 stare
moro fxcdly at the floor.
TIE cider lady arose at this and camo
slowly down tho long line, scrutinizing
sharply each face before her, not rs il max
ing choice, but rather as il searching for
some resemblance. Finally she reached The
matron, at whose side stood, or rather lid,
for felt n fear OF thc wclldrcsscd woman
/ felt htlo less than an absolute terror CT
this one, who, with her koch gray eyes,
seemed TO see straight through me. 1 hopCd
she would pass me By, but she did not. Sho
paused, and, laying a hand on nay shoulder,
drew mo out Of the shadow into the full
light that carne in through the hall windows.
i biushcd crimson, and hung my head, my
heart beating almost 10 sufrOcltOn, so fright
cnCd was j, while the woman slowly inspect
cd re f.om head 10 foot.
'ilo'd up your head" abe commanded, in
her brusGuc way. obcyed her. She took
one look iu my eyes; n CLEAN Cf intelligence
flashed in her face. "Thc same" she NUT
tered; 'the very same. Now, what is your
namo, htt.o girly" she inquired.
"Dorcas Lynn" answered, shyly.
"Dorcas; yes, yes" Then, turning 70 the
nstron, she inquired very particularly in
regard to my past history, from whence
came, etc, etc, al Of which madam an
swered ~ the best Of her ability, giving her
the brief history with which Tho reader 10
already familiar.
This explanation seemed 70 entirely satisfy
Miss Armund (for such learned was her
namc), for she exclaimed, almost eagerly
thought: "She'll do; II take her"
Then, turning to her companion, she in
quircd "Have you any thing 20 say, Lenai'
The o.hor lady had remained seated, up
parently quite indifferent as 10 what her
companion was doing, but at her question
she arose and came slowly down tho room
TO where stood. She gave me one look-a
look so full Of hatred and malice, that II
seemed 10 scorch my very soul; but her
tones were smooth and soft US she an
sworci:
''lf you arc satisfied, Maria, 1 am con-
tent"
IL an quite satisfied" answered Miss Ar
mund, ian meaning tone.
"Thcn il is settled" answered the other,
and she swept back 10 her scat by the win